Farmers still oppose Telstra sale

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Farmers say they still can't support Telstra's sale despite
Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce's decision to back the plan.

National Farmers' Federation (NFF) president Peter Corish says
farmers are unable to support the sale based on the information
they have received from the federal government.

"Barnaby Joyce would have made his decision based on the
information that he had available to him," Corish said.

"But from our point of view we would hope that he had more
information than we currently have because while we have had
constructive meetings with the prime minister and deputy prime
minister this week, we are still waiting for information regarding
how the government is going to ensure that delays in basic phone
repair times are going to be fixed.

"At this stage we haven't seen evidence of legislation that will
ensure equitable telecommunications services in rural Australia for
the longer term."

Senator Joyce, who has repeatedly threatened to vote against
Telstra's sale in the Senate, today said he would support the
government's plan to sell Telstra.

He made his decision after receiving feedback from the
Queensland Nationals on a $3.1 billion package of sweeteners for
bush telecommunications announced by the government last week.

Corish said the government's own data showed that telephone
repair times had worsened in recent years.

He said the NFF was also still waiting to see legislation from
Communications Minister Helen Coonan that would guarantee equitable
telecommunications services for those living in the bush.

"I think people in rural and regional Australia have every right
to continue to ask these questions and we will continue to do so on
their behalf," he said.